THE JUNIPER WEB-WORM. 



911 



not yet been found on our native juniper. It is a well-known English 

 and German moth. There is one annual brood of worms. The insect 

 hybernates at different stages of larval develoi)ment, and the chrysalis 

 is found throughout the spring months. The moths begin to appear 

 as early as Ai)ril, but continue to issue during the summer. The worm 

 from birth webs the leaflets together, and lives within a more or less 

 perfect silken tube, this tube being more complete around the hyber- 

 nating individuals. The sprigs and branches aflected by the worm 

 present a seared and brown appearance, and a tree badly affected may 

 be recognized at a great distance." Riley adds, in a later report : 



"Among the insects to which I have given some attention during the 

 year is one which mnj be known by the above popular name. Mr. P. 

 H. Foster, of the Babylon nurseries, 

 Babylon, L. I., had already corre- 

 sponded with me about the ravages 

 of this worm in 1877, and, after rear- 

 ing the perfect moth and ascertain- 

 ing the principal facts in its natural 

 history, I had given no further atten- 

 tion to the matter until the following 

 letter was received : 



Babylon. L. I., May 13, 1878. 

 Dear Sir : I seud you, by mail this day, 

 some specimens of diseased juniper. I find 

 a very small worm encased in a covering, 

 some of which, no doubt, can still be found 

 iu the specimen sent. Also one perfect in- 

 sect and one pupa can be fouud. I have iu 

 my nursery some 200 to 300 fiue Irish and 

 Swedish junipers, and unless I can find a 

 remedy they will soon be worthless to me. 

 Yours, respectfully, 



P. H. Foster. 



"The injuries of this insect had 

 never before been reported in this 

 country, but the species has long been 

 known to affect junipers in the south 

 of England and other parts of Europe. 

 The probability is, therefore, that it is 

 a comparatively recent importation, 

 though Mr. Foster can give me no in- 

 formation that satisfactorily bears upon the point, since he himself 

 never imported any junipers, but obtained his stock when quite small 

 of Messrs. Higgins, of Flushing. 



" Heine* cites this species as having but a limited distribution, reach- 

 ing in Germany to Mecklenburg. It is rare there, the moth appearing 



Fig. 302. — The juniper web-worm ; a, sprig of 

 juniper, showing manner in which the larva 

 works ; 6, larva, dorsal view ; c, chrysalis, 

 dorsal view; d, moth; b, c, d, enlarged.— 

 After Riley. 



* Schmetterlinge Deutschlands und der Schweiz. 



